Improvement in fire-arms



' 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

H. S. NORTH.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

Patented June 5, 18.

\ J KZ WW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. S. NORTH.

Breech-Loading Fire-Arm.

N.PETERS. PHoTQ-UTHUGRAPMER, WASHINGTON, u c.

Patented June 5, 1847.

UNTTEE STATES PATENT OEEECE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 5J4], dated June 5,1847.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. NORTH, of Middletown, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Fire-Arms which are Loaded at the Breech; and I herebydeclare that the following is a full and exact descrip tion thereof.

I refer to the annexed drawing as a part of this specification.

A represents a box made of iron or other metal; or, for the purpose ofmaking the gun lighter, the sides only of the box may be made of metal,and the wooden stock of the gun may form the bottom of the box. On botsides within the box are shoulders 1 2, formed for the purpose ofsustaining the sliding crotch C, which rests against these shoulders,and passes vertically between them and the shoulders 3 4 on the receiveror magazine B. The box is attached to the barrel.

B represents the receiver or magazine, which contains the charge, withits shoulders 3 4, and its mortise 5. the barrel, is so constructed asto fit tight into the chamber of the barrel, entering the same (afterbeing retracted as hereinafter mentioned) horizontally. The back part ofthe receiver or magazine is so constructed and worked down as to formthe said shoulders 3 4 on each side of it, which, by means of thesliding crotch C, serve the purpose of bold ing the receiver or magazinefirmly to its place, when it has entered the chamber of the barrel. Thesaid small mortise 5, about half an inch long, one-fourth of an inchwide, and one-fourth of an inch deep, is made on the under side of thereceiver or magazine for the purpose of drawing it out and back from thebarrel by means of a stud or finger, 7, formed on the guard-lever D,which is made to operate in said mortise.

C represents the sliding crotch, which is made of iron or steel, and isintended to hold the receiver or magazine to its place, and also tosustain the recoil of the same when fired. The crotch is moved to andfrom its place by the guard-lever D. The bottom of the box isrepresented by 8 9 10.

The part 6, which enters D represents the guard-lever, the back partwhereof, 11, forms the bow of the guard which covers the trigger 12. Theforward part of it, 13, is used as a lever for raising up the receiveror magazine to load it. Near its axis 14 and over it is the studorfinger 7, which operates in the said mortise of the receiver ormagazine for the purpose of drawing it out and back from the barrel.Back from said axis and near where the curve or bow, which covers thetrigger, commences is a notch, 1.5, made to fit the sliding crotch, bywhich the guard is made to operate as a lever to draw the crotch fromand to move it to its place. To the guard-lever, near the stud orfinger, a link-swivel, 16, is fixed, to which a spring, 17, is attached,serving to hold the guard-lever and crotch firmly up to their places.

To load a firearm thus constructed, let the right hand be in its usualplace-to wit,around the wrist or crooked part of the stockand with theleft hand pull down the guard-lever as far as it can be drawnconveniently. This will draw back and raise up the receiver or magazineso that the chamber of it will come just above the barrel. Still holdingon to the guard with the left hand, and keeping the re ceiver up, insertthe charge with the right hand. Then take the gun by its wrist with theright hand, let go of the guard with the left, and with the thumb of theleft hand press down the receiver or magazine forcibly, and the springattached to the guard will carry everything to its place. If the springshould fail to carry the receiver tight into the barrel, (which is notlikely to happen,) press the guard-lever up to its place with the lefthand.

Another way, and perhaps preferable, of placing the gun in a positionfor loading, is to pull upon the guard until the receiver is drawn fromthe barrel, and then to let go of it, and the spring attached to theguard will raise the receiver to its proper position for loading. Thenhold the gun by the barrel with the left hand, and load with the righthand.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is

The combination of the guard-lever with the crotch by means of the notchin the guard.

lever made back from its axis and near Where the curve of the howcommences when in combination with the receiver or magazine, by means ofthe stud 0r finger 0n the guard-1ever and mortise 0n the under side ofthe ireeeiver or magazine, the whole combined and operatingsubstantially as hei'einbefore described.

Dated at Middietown the 24th day of May, A; D; 1847.

HENRY S. NORTH.

In presence of- J ONATHAN BARNES, JACOB L. G. MOKOWN.

